Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[DB11Headband]

The Illinois staff believes Riley will be a starter and that's what they've told him.

Obviously, things could change if he shows that he's not quite ready. They have NOT told him that anything is guaranteed, and neither did any of the other schools that were recruiting him.

Boswell
Kasp
Riley
Ben
Tomi

White
Ty
Morez

 

[Brosky]

I guess we'll see. We can all play the guessing game as of now. I'm not convinced about the starting lineup guarantee. I go back to Henson who often said, you don't guarantee a starting spot to a recruit; you simply tell him he's capable of earning that by what he does in practice. I think players (and I know their h.s. coaches) respect that.

 

[Dr Copejam]

Boswell
Kasp
Riley
Ben
Tomi

White
Ty
Morez

 

[DeonThomas]

Will Riley's Crystal Ball Predictions

247sports.com

Piper finally puts in his crystal ball for Riley as well.

And he's confident at 8/10!

 

[DAM1298]

Boswell
Kasp
Riley
Ben
Tomi

White
Ty
Morez

Hope Booth/DGL don’t get cut out of the rotation. I know most teams don’t go beyond 8 guys but would love to see a minutes breakdown something like:

Boswell: 26
KJ: 26
Riley: 22
Ben: 22
Tomi: 25

White: 18
Ty: 18
Morez: 15
Booth: 12
DGL: 12
Davis: 4

 

[PepeSilvia]

Hope Booth/DGL don’t get cut out of the rotation. I know most teams don’t go beyond 8 guys but would love to see a minutes breakdown something like:

Boswell: 26
KJ: 26
Riley: 22
Ben: 22
Tomi: 25

White: 18
Ty: 18
Morez: 15
Booth: 12
DGL: 12
Davis: 4

Feel like Davis would be better off redshirting and then you can burn it in case of multiple injuries or something.

Also, it's pretty rare for a lot of 7 footers to play more than 22/23 mins a game. So I'd likely drop Tomi down and give Ben some more minutes.

 

[LadyLoyalty]

Some people have Riley penciled in as a starting wing. I don't. In the first place, we don't have him yet. In the second place, he's sooooo skinny he needs Fletch badly; he needs to get bigger and stronger. KJ has a stronger build and has played lots of games against grown men in Euroleague competition. As one of the gurus said, "He may be the most experienced freshman in the country." And I have Tre penciled in as the other wing, I want three starters with major college experience. That said, I expect Riley will get mucho minutes, and probably more as the season progresses. Okay, fire at will.

Chet Holmgren says hello.

 

[DAM1298]

Feel like Davis would be better off redshirting and then you can burn it in case of multiple injuries or something.

Also, it's pretty rare for a lot of 7 footers to play more than 22/23 mins a game. So I'd likely drop Tomi down and give Ben some more minutes.

Indifferent on Davis and Yeah I’d be fine with that re: Tomi. Probably all of our center minutes are going to be played by Tomi, Morez or Booth so if his minutes go down one of Morez/Booth would probably get them, unless we think Brad tries Ben at the 5

 

[Iamgroot]

I have no idea how ready Riley will be (or if we will land him). But I swear 50% of posters here are under the impression that we’re putting together a weight lifting team.

It’s basketball. Players with different body types can be successful.

I agree alot of people forget Kevin durrants workout during NBA combine really doubted if he'd be able to perform due to strength issues and look at his NBA career

 

[Loyalillini10]

Boswell
Kasp
Riley
Ben
Tomi

White
Ty
Morez

What a flippin' lineup.

 

[john1952]

Words of Wisdom Bobby Knight

“Your cam talk about all the motivational speeches, and phrases and devices in the world, but the greatest motivator of all is your !!! on the bench There is no better motivator. !!! meets bench. Bench retains !!!. !!! transmits signal to brain. Brain transmits signal to body. Body gets !!! of bench and plays better. I mean it’s a hell of a sequence of things which takes place.”

Bobby Knight

Press conference.

Former Indiana University basketball coach

 

[Combo]

I agree alot of people forget Kevin durrants workout during NBA combine really doubted if he'd be able to perform due to strength issues and look at his NBA career

Durant was the #2 pick in the draft, so they couldn't have been too worried. The talking heads (like us forum participants) talk about everything imaginable. Actions are what matter.

Durant was also the #2 ranked player coming out of H.S. If Riley ends up being anywhere as good as Durant, we should be overjoyed (if we get him).

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Chet Holmgren says hello.

POV: Chet Holmgren taking a charge from Zion

 

[Bucktown]

Marcus Liberty says hello. He was an elite contributor on a talented team who made significant contributions...from the bench. As the top ranked recruit in his class, he knew as a frosh to respect the older guys and was willing to use his elite, yet inexperienced, talent to make the team better. Wiley will likely be called upon to do the same and may get 20+ min. per game in a similar role. He has zero experience against B1G level competition and does not need to be put in a role to lead this team from the get go. His time will come, maybe this season as he learns....but he will be needed and get plenty of opportunity to adapt, learn, and succeed. BU will decide when he is one of the five best...not any of us. I sure do not know what he can do to lift the team and how often, but having the opportunity to play with these guys is special...as is his talent and potential. Not making any predictions, just using some common sense. Above all, I certainly hope he is a First Team AA this year...but I would bet my beach house that does not turn out to be the case. As for future years? The sky is the limit depending what is between his ears and in his heart.

I think Liberty was even Prop 48. So he was a sophomore his first year playing. It looks like he did start 24 of 36 games (likely most when Gill was out) but he was 6th in minutes. ....edit. I see all these points have been made.

 

[Sedino]

Boswell
Kasp
Riley
Ben
Tomi

White
Ty
Morez

While you obviously know a LOT more than I do, I just have a hard time believing Kasp would start over Ty. Ty’s rebounding, defense and leadership would just be so vital for a lineup that has never played a game together.

Obviously Kasp is miles and miles ahead of Ty in scoring, but Ty would have 4 offensive weapons around him.

 

[splitter]

I don't know. I don't think Marcus Liberty, a guy who played 36 years ago, is really analogous to anything in the year 2024. Every single thing about college basketball is a totally different animal. To a point where I kind of think it's silly to bring him up within this context. Simply look at Brad's history. Here's a list of freshmen who started: Trent, Ayo, Giorgi, Kofi, Adam, Skyy, and Jayden. I mean, and then there's the fact he might not even be the only freshman starting this season. I don't know how it's going to shake out, but I don't think the common sense you are referring to is actually that common.

Plus, Marcus was a sophomore (redshirt freshman--again just making this situation even farther from similar) and started 24 out of a possible 36 games his first season playing.

If memory serves, Marcus was a Prop 48 and couldn't even practice his first year.

 

[DB11Headband]

While you obviously know a LOT more than I do, I just have a hard time believing Kasp would start over Ty. Ty’s rebounding, defense and leadership would just be so vital for a lineup that has never played a game together.

Obviously Kasp is miles and miles ahead of Ty in scoring, but Ty would have 4 offensive weapons around him.

All 8 of the fellas I outlined I think will play close to 20 min+. Don’t think we’re going to see anyone playing 30+ outside of Kylan and maybe Ben. Ty will still play a ton.

 

[Illini4Christ]

While you obviously know a LOT more than I do, I just have a hard time believing Kasp would start over Ty. Ty’s rebounding, defense and leadership would just be so vital for a lineup that has never played a game together.

Obviously Kasp is miles and miles ahead of Ty in scoring, but Ty would have 4 offensive weapons around him.

This may shed light on why Kasparas will start over anyone:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1795440992449098216

 

[Illini4Christ]

For DB1 or any other insider, do you know if any player has caught the coaching staff’s eye during the summer workouts?

 

[DB11Headband]

For DB1 or any other insider, do you know if any player has caught the coaching staff’s eye during the summer workouts?

Tre has looked the best so far. Folks are really underestimating the impact he can make. 6MOTY in the B1G very much in play if he indeed comes off the bench like I expect

 

[Iamgroot]

Durant was the #2 pick in the draft, so they couldn't have been too worried. The talking heads (like us forum participants) talk about everything imaginable. Actions are what matter.

Durant was also the #2 ranked player coming out of H.S. If Riley ends up being anywhere as good as Durant, we should be overjoyed (if we get him).

I agree was just saying as far as strength or weight skill can win out. Durant strength was a major question coming out of college. but obviously skill won out not saying riley will have the same career but the updated ranking isn't to far off from Durants out of college assuming he stayed in his current class which has been implied it won't but don't mean his sophomore season can't be as special or at least we can hope

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1804561032842518821

Really hope everything went well here on the visit...

 

[Qdog2859]

Four weapons that will have five players guarding them because Ty refuses to look at the basket!!!

 

[LadyLoyalty]

You’re right, Chet Holmgren was only the #2 pick in 2022 draft. How embarrassing for him.

 

[Combo]

Boswell
Kasp
Riley
Ben
Tomi

White
Ty
Morez

Totally agree with that starting 5 (if we get Riley) as well as the three main guys off the bench. I could see those 8 all getting >15 mpg.

I do think we'll need some minutes from DGL as we don't have much depth at guard (though likely not enough to be considered part of the "rotation")